Several trends, business deals and legislative changes could make the healthcare industry a little more consumer-friendly.(Photo: Getty Images)

Will the U.S. health care system become any more affordable or transparent in 2019? While big policy changes aren’t expected in the coming year, several trends, business deals and legislative changes could make the industry a little more consumer-friendly.

Here are three of these trends that could change health care for consumers in 2019.

Obamacare deregulation

The Affordable Care Act is nearly a decade old, but the landmark health policy still continues to evolve. The big change this year is that there is now no penalty for failing to comply with the law’s individual mandate.

Previously, consumers who did not carry qualified health coverage faced a fine, but beginning in 2019, that penalty is set at $0. This means consumers no longer face a financial disincentive for going uninsured or choosing a health plan that does not meet the criteria for “qualified” coverage.

As of now, Obamacare is still the law of the land, but it is expected that fewer consumers will sign up for ACA coverage now that they face no penalty. This could lead to increased premium prices as younger, healthier consumers look toward other insurance options.

Another regulatory change that could affect consumers is the expansion of short-term health plans. These plans typically do not cover as much as comprehensive insurance plans, but last year, the Trump administration changed the rules for these plans, making them a more viable alternative for consumers who do not want or cannot afford traditional insurance.

The president’s administration is reportedly also pursuing a proposal to allow consumers to apply the ACA’s premium subsidies toward these short-term plans. Currently, subsidies can only be applied toward ACA plans.

Amazon enters the health care biz

The retail giant entered the health care industry in a big way in 2018, and many expect that other health care companies will be strategizing ways to compete.

For example, mail-order prescriptions are expected to become a lot more common and accessible after Amazon acquired online pharmacy PillPack last year, which offers prescription coordination and home delivery to consumers.

Amazon also launched a health care joint venture with J.P. Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway in 2018, and most expect there are still more health care plans to come from the company. In Nashville, Amazon’s decision to open a 5,000-job logistics center downtown may have been in part shaped by the city’s health care economy and expertise.

In response to Amazon, the rest of the health care industry is likely considering ways to be more consumer-oriented, convenient and price-transparent.

However, the prices hospitals will list won’t necessarily represent what consumers will pay. The list prices are called the “chargemaster” price, and this amount is often billed to uninsured patients and used in negotiations with insurers.

If a hospital is in your insurance network, you will likely see a discount off of the chargemaster price. Even so, the figure is still useful in seeing whether the hospital you are considering tends to cost more than a competing hospital.

According to Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, this is “just the beginning” of price transparency efforts in the U.S. This push is expected to continue throughout 2019 and into the coming years.

Most consumers want a health care system that is more affordable and easier to access. While these are not easy goals to accomplish, these trends might be a step in the right direction.